The Managed Pub Conference 2017

5th July 2017

HGEM’s Business Development Manager Matthew Smith attended The MCA Managed Pub Conference at the Honourable Artillery Company London on 20th June. The event featured a range of great speakers from across the industry sharing their knowledge and insight. Matthew offered his top takeaways from the event:

Craft beer is big business – With drinking habits changing and increasing numbers shunning alcohol altogether, is it time to rethink the idea that beer is the backbone of a pub? Many guests are looking for an increased soft drink offering, while the popularity of craft over traditional beers shows no sign of slowing. A keynote from Ken Stout of craft beer company Goose Island looked at its success in the US and whether UK drinks trends are following suit.

Embracing tech – We’ve seen tech advances affect every aspect of our lives – including guest experience. Clive Watson of the City Pub Co. discussed the City Club App, which helps collect guest feedback using elements of social listening and sentiment analysis, while creating a link between their 50 pubs to encourage guest loyalty.

Catering for Generation Z – Author Chloe Combi spoke on the importance of acknowledging Generation Z’s changing habits – with fewer drinking alcohol or feeling that pubs are too rowdy, venues should be conscious of creating spaces that will appeal to this audience.

Experience is everything – Brandon Stephens, Founder of Tortilla Mexican Grill, discussed the app REVL which aims to provide a curated ‘what’s on’ guide based on preferences and location, creating a personalised experience for the user. ‘Experience’ was a key topic of discussion throughout the day, with the rising popularity of escape room games, street food events and immersive dining experiences reflecting a new interest in venues providing something extra for guests.